Improvement in corset-busks



UNITED STATES THOMAS WALLACE, JR., OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN rCORSET-BUSIS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. ibf, dated October 13, 1863.

.To all whom it may concern,.-

Re it known that I, THOMAS WALLACE, Jr., of Ansonia, of the county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Corset-Busks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a'full and exact description thereot', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My invention relates to a novel method of forming or preparing the busks or metallic springs and strips employed in the making or forming ot' corsets, and has for its object to prevent the ends ot' the metallic strips from cutting or forcing through the fibrous mateiial, between two thicknesses of which they are conned 5 and to these ends my said invention consists in the formation of said busks with their ends enlarged and so shaped as to render them less liable to cut or wear through the cloth or brous material of which the corset is made, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. p

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the construction and operation of my improvement, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a pair of corsets opened or spread out dat. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the edge strips of metal made according to my invention. Fig. 3 is a section at xx, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of one of the smaller busks or stays. Fig. 5 is a partial elevation of strip seen at Fig. 2, but showing another modification of the device, or means of preventing the ends vfrom cutting through the cloth of the corset. Fig. 6 is a section at the line y y, Fig. 5.

In the several figures the same part is everywhere indicated by the same letter of reference.

A is thel corset, formed in any ofthe known patterns. I have shown it as in two parts, which are clasped or hooked together in front (of the body ofthe wearer) and laced together behind.

The two parts of the corset are formed, as seen at Fig. 1, with pockets between the two thicknesses of material A, in which are placed steel strips, and also with pockets b h, in which are placed other strips of steel, one of which strips is formed with buttons l projecting from its side, and the other with lugs or ears c projecting from its edge, the ears c being formed with holes to receive and retain thebuttons L in the manner well known to those skilled in the art of making corsets; the other adjacent edges of the two portions being held or fastened together in the usual way by means ot a cord, m, passed through eyelets o, set in the material A of the corset.

it', &c., are numerous pockets formed between the two thicknesses of material, in which are arranged the small busks or stays C (see Fig. 4) in the usual way.

Previous to my invention it has been eustomary in the manufacture of corsets to make all the steels or metallic busks or strips with their ends the same thickness as the other portion of the strip. These metallic strips have to be made very thin, and it has been shown by experience that the ends of these thin strips will, evenif finished smoothly,

soon wear or cut through cloth of which the corset is formed. I have overcome this objection to or disadvantage in that kind of corsets in which steels or metallic strips are employed by enlarging and rounding the edges of the ends of the metallic strips.

At Figs. 2 and 3 I have shown one of my improved corset-strips, which, it will be seen, has its ends enlarged by means of a cap, d, which may be secured by a rivet, c, or otherwise. It will be seen that by the use of the cap d, as shown, an end to the strip B,which is rounded orf in every direction, and which is much thicker than the stock ot' the strip B,

and it will be understood that by having the end of piece B thus enlarged by the cappiece d an end is presented which is not only capable of being made perfectly rounded to prevent the existence of any cutting edges 0r angles, but which is also, from its increased or greater thickness, incapable of punching through the material A of the corset, or inj uring or rubbing uncomfortably against the body of the wearer.

In lieu of a cappiece, d, secured to the end of the strips, as shown at Figs. 2, 3, and 4, a clip or curved piece of wire may be sprung onto the end of the strip, as clearly shown at Figs. 5 and 6, the piece of wire f being formed with a longitudinal groove, and so shaped otherwise as to clasp onto the end of the piece B, as shown; or, instead of a piece clasped or fastened to thc end of the strip, the latter may have its ends enlarged by plating' them with' successive thicknesses of metal, or in any other manner.

My invention does not relate to any particular device or means for enlarging the ends of the metallic strips7 and I therefore propose t0 use any means which I may deem expedient in practicing my invention.

Having` fully explained my invention so that those skilled can make and use it, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters' Patent, is-

The employment in corsets of metallic strips which have their ends enlarged, for the purposes substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 15th day of J une, 1863.

Trios. WALLACE, JR. [Ls] ln presence of A. J. HINE, SYLVESTER BARBOUR. 

